Archive for June 2013

Virtual Assistant: The New Sheet Anchor Of Small Business Success

Posted on Friday, June 14, 2013 by

 By Mike Viena.

Optimum utilization of skilled manpower is a challenge for all types of companies and businesses. While big companies enjoy the luxury to hire any number of full-time employees, the small and medium size businesses cannot afford that luxury because of resource constraints.
But small businesses are overcoming that handicap by hiring the services of remotely working virtual assistants. In other words outsourcing of virtual assistant services is the new recipe for business transformation that translates into higher productivity and profits.
How they Work?
An assistant can work from any part of the world. They can make the time flexible and customize it according to the needs of the client. The task may be for a few hours a week or a full-time job of 40 hours a week, the rate per hour or per project basis pricing variable and depend on the skills of the virtual assistant.
A virtual assistant is different from regular employee in many respects. To hire an assistant means hiring a professional on a contractual basis. The demand is soaring because hiring Virtual assistants or virtual secretaries are incredibly cost affective compared to the traditional method of placing a full-time staffer for a particular task.
Best Services
A virtual secretary can support a business office with the following functions such as:
 
• Administrative Assistant
• Executive assistant
• Personal assistant
• Telemarketing
• Lead generation
• Bookkeeping
• Accounting
• Real estate assistance
• SEO
• Social Media marketing
• Web Designing
• Web Development
• Content Writing 

 
 
Gains Galore for the Client
While hiring a VA, a client gets huge saving in operational costs and the service of a high quality professional at affordable costs. This is immediately reflected in the higher efficiency levels in the business processes leading to better productivity and sales. While hiring a secretary, the Client is not committed for any employee-related wages or taxes; logistical systems such as equipment, software, extra office space or obligations on paid holidays or sick leave. The secretary is paid only for the hours worked.
Unlike temps or freelancers, Virtual assistants or a Secretary's service will be long-lasting as they perform as substantial partners of the business clients with clear goals. There are at least 5 things make Virtual assistants special:
• Professionalism
• Perfect Project Management
• Round the Clock Availability
 
Impact on Business
The positive impact of hiring a virtual assistant makes a direct contribution to the efficiency and productivity of a business organization. All Virtual Assistant jobs are contract jobs and they are paid on hourly rates. Once a tried and tested VA takes over, the hiring business owner can enjoy peace of mind. Yet another benefit is that the VA can also be kept as a retainer without any liability of orientation or training.
Overall Assistant jobs and services mark a paradigm shift in the way businesses are working. This new genre of remote employment is not limited to any specific place or region. The Virtual assistants bring to table the option of multiplicity as different specialists can be tried as against the conventional practice of hiring a single person to meet too many skill requirements.
For more information on Intelligent Office virtual assistants, please contact:
Richard Rey
Business Development Manager
Intelligent Office Miami
rrey@intelligentoffice.com
www.intelligentoffice.com
Tel: 305-777-1300

How Self Employed People Can Benefit From Virtual Office Services

Posted on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 by

At first it is highly likely that many people used to working for themselves will say no. Those who are self-employed individuals do tend to become rather protective of their brand, wanting to answer every call, respond to every enquiry and answer every question, even whilst trying to carry out the work for other customers at the same time.

It's never been tougher for self-employed entrepreneurs or tradesmen, trying to cope with demand in a timely fashion whilst also carrying out quality work that doesn't become rushed. The financial climate right now is not good, and those who are self-employed individuals are finding it increasingly tough. So might outsourcing office services actually be an answer?
 
If you're up a ladder, answering the phone isn't ideal. If you're driving, you really can't use the phone, because even if you do use a hands free kit, you're almost certainly not going to be able to concentrate fully on both the customer and the road. If you're stuck behind a washing machine, turning over a garden or lugging a double wardrobe up a flight of stairs, you really can't be answering your phone.
 
Which creates a problem self-employed people don't like. Missed calls. A missed call doesn't look good for your business, and it's very likely that the customer will simply call the next number in the telephone directory. A missed call doesn't just mean one missed job, but each enquiry could potentially lead to a long term, loyal customer who keeps coming back.
 
But of course not every call is a potential new customer. Sometimes it's a wrong number. Sometimes it's simply a call to find out prices, or check on an appointment time. These calls can easily be dealt with at a later time if needed. But when the phone rings, you never know whether it will be a wrong number, a simple enquiry from a existing customer, or the next Big Job.
 
All of which means that as a self-employed individual working in the current financial climate, outsourcing to a virtual office is not just good sense, it's essential.
 
Now let's just clear up one thing here. Because many people will be thinking that virtual office services are not for them, because it must mean redirecting their customers to either an overseas call centre, or some warehouse stuffed full of thousands of operators, most of whom only know your business because it flashes up the script for them to use on their computer screen. Loyalty? Forget it. Commitment? None.
 
But the truth is that while these sorts of virtual offices do exist, that's not the only type there is.
 


Because you really can find more personal virtual offices. These are remote receptionists who do have a loyalty and commitment to your business, who do know you and your customers, and can become a part of your business your customers become familiar with, and who they trust.
 
Rather than two thousand operators in a battery chicken style warehouse, imagine an office with half a dozen operators, all who share the same teapot. Imagine them not even needing a script because they know you, your business and your customers. Imagine your customers being able to get through to the same virtual receptionist every time.
 
This means that you can confidently leave your business in safe hands, while you concentrate on dealing with your customers and their needs face to face, either up a ladder, down a drain, under a car or in front of an obstinate computer.
 
The virtual receptionists can then decide on your behalf whether you need to be disturbed or not. If it's a simple enquiry your receptionist can handle themselves, then you don't need to be disturbed at all. You'll simply receive a report at the end of the day which informs you of the calls and the action taken.
 
On the other hand, you may want to have some calls sent through to you in the form of a text message, so that you have a written record of people you need to call back, or changes you need to make to your schedule.
 
Then there will be some calls you really will need to take. But at least you'll know that if your phone rings, it really will be important. Either that or it will be your partner reminding you to pick up some onions and a loaf of bread on your way home.
 
For more information on Intelligent Office virtual assistants, please contact: 
Richard Rey
Business Development Manager
Intelligent Office Miami
rrey@intelligentoffice.com
www.intelligentoffice.com
Tel: 305-777-1300